Police cracks down on impaired drivers with help of volunteers

Tuesday

Aug 20, 2013 at 12:44 PM

Local law enforcement has started its brief yet intense summer driving enforcement program.

By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

Local law enforcement has started its brief yet intense summer driving enforcement program. The program will be in place with checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols through the first week in September. The Ridgecrest Police Department held a driving under the influence and drivers license checkpoint on Friday and will continue with a DUI Saturation Patrol next weekend.The location of the checkpoint is a secret but up until an hour before it is in place, according to Sgt. Mike Myers of the RPD Traffic Division. Citizens can call and will be given the location of the checkpoint. And, the checkpoints are given ample advertising, something that is not required. There is a misconception that checkpoints have to be fully advertised before being conducted. Myers explained that the department's only obligation is to offer advertising to local media, and that the local media has the choice not to publish the information.Once the checkpoint is situated, its lit up like a Christmas Tree, with spotlights, cones, signs and a fleet of squad cars. There are "escape routes" set up, so people do not have to go through the checkpoint, as provided by law. But, there are also folks at the edges of the checkpoint, keeping an eye on cars that approach the checkpoint and use the escape route. The folks at the edge of the cones set up for the checkpoint are volunteers for the Police and Community Together, (PACT).John Abbott, PACT volunteer said he watches for suspicious activity of vehicles approaching the checkpoint. He says he's looking for people tossing contraband or booze containers out of the car, cars that make an abrupt and suspicious detour away from checkpoint. He said has even seen drivers and passengers try and switch seats while coasting their car up to the checkpoint.Suspicious vehicles that blatantly avoid the checkpoint are usually followed by a squad car. At the checkpoint are sworn officers, cop cars and motorcycles, a Command Center support trailer and a gang of volunteers. Myers said there are limited funds to run these checkpoints and that it is the volunteers that make the checkpoints a reality.There are volunteers that do various paperwork duties as well as help with peripheral duties, like Abbott. Myers explained that while the duties are not intricate, they are time consuming. Myers added that if it weren't for the volunteers, the cops getting paid overtime would be busy with the paperwork and taken away from law enforcement duties. Myers couldn't praise the volunteers enough and said more than once that it is the volunteers that make the checkpoints a reality."We couldn't do anything without the volunteers," Myers said. "They keep us running."Myers said manpower is so much more effective than signage. He gave the example of a side street that had two signs stating the road was closed. The signs didn't stop a motorist from driving between the signs trying to get through. The motorist said he saw the signs, Myers said, but there was room enough to get a vehicle through. Myers said a person with a reflective vest on and the words POLICE stenciled on the back can do more to deter a motorist through than any sign can. The volunteers do not have the power to issue tickets or make arrests, but the volunteers are under the direction of the RPD. If the words and actions of the volunteer is not adhered to by a citizen, the citizen has broken the law and will be cited. One volunteer who wanted to remain anonymous said he is third-generation living in Ridgecrest born and raised, and that since he has been with PACT, "I've seen a side of Ridgecrest I've never seen before." He said there is "a different value set" with some people that can lend itself to shady, even unlawful activity. He said he felt it a privilege to be able to help, "If we can take just one ounce off their shoulders." He said he wishes he could take pounds off, but he's doing what he can.Myers said the sworn officers are being compensated and with overtime pay, but the volunteer officers are working on their day off.Myers said the objective of the checkpoint is to keep the streets safe, but he says the checkpoints also serve as a deterrence. He explained that it is the philosophy of RPD Chief Ronald Strand and himself to use the spirit of the law when appropriate, but the letter of the law is used if need be.The RPD will be conducting DUI Saturation Patrols within the city limits from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday morning, Aug. 23-24.